Springfield Armory XDM 4.5

Description

The Springfield X-treme Duty M is a semi-automatic large-frame pistol chambered in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. The XDM is an upgraded version of Springfield’s XD series pistols. Like the XD models, the XDM is manufactured by HS Produkt in Karlovac, Croatia, and was modeled after the company’s HS2000, a standard issue Croatian military and police service pistol introduced in the 1990s. However, Springfield sells the XD and XDM series domestically.

Noticeable differences in the XDM from the XD are that the XDM has a longer barrel, a longer ambidextrous magazine release, a larger magazine capacity, and it’s supposed to be easier to disassemble. The XDM also features interchangeable grips.

Otherwise the XDM has similar features that include a grip safety, meaning the gun can only be fired when the shooter’s hand firmly depresses the safety located at the rear of the handle. A patented Ultra Safety Assurance trigger system, which guards against accidental discharge. The USA only allows the gun to be fired when direct rearward pressure is applied to the trigger, eliminating the possibility of an accidental discharge if the gun is dropped or bumped. It has a striker status indicator that protrudes from the rear of the steel slide when the striker mechanism is cocked. In addition, it has a loaded chamber indicator, which is a thin piece of metal that pops up when a round is in the chamber.

Editor Review

The XD(M) series of handguns from Springfield Armory offer a number of tweaks and improvements over their XD line like a higher magazine capacity, tighter fit, easier take-down, a slightly longer barrel, but most importantly, what you’re getting is a solid, dependable design that shoots well.

The one used for this review is the full-sized XD(M) with a 4.5” barrel chambered in 9mm. This is not a small gun, nor a light one - even with the polymer frame - but for a duty weapon this is a good thing. It was more stable and allowed for easier re-acquisition of a target after firing. It has a rather long sight radius that made it easier to line up and hit the bull’s eye, and the 19+1 magazine capacity was another plus.

The fit and finish on the gun are excellent—exactly what you’d expect from a company like Springfield Armory. Likewise, the design is intelligent and makes use of the latest features. What was most impressive was the trigger because it resets with minimal movement making rapid follow-up shots easier.

At first glance I thought the textured grip might be too rough because too aggressive can feel like sandpaper, but it didn’t present any problems whatsoever. In fact, I forgot all about it after the first few shots.

The grip is rather large because it accommodates a double-stack magazine, but that works for me because I have big hands. My buddy, however, has small hands, but the XD(M) was not a problem for him either (he’s had problems with similar platforms from competing manufacturers though).

The gun disassembles and reassembles very easily too - better than anything else on the market as far as I’m concerned (a nice feature, but not a huge one in my book).

Otherwise, the gun shares much of the same feel and performance as the original XD line, but has a couple noticeable modifications. On the XD(M) the magazine release is a little easier to use than on the XD where it tends to get in the way and is easy to hit unintentionally. Also, the XD(M)’s slide serrations are a bit more comfortable.

All in all, it’s a good product and comes new with a holster, mag holder, speed loader, and two magazines. Whether it is worth a bit more money than the XD line is a personal matter - were I in the market, I’d probably go for the extra features. And if you get one, I’m sure you’ll be pleased with how it shoots and holds up for years.